Scholarship Alert for Graduating Iowa Seniors: USJCI Foundation Senate Scholarship Applications are Now Being Accepted

Applications are now being taken for the United States Junior Chamber International Senate Foundation Scholarship Program. Graduating high school seniors in Iowa are eligible to apply. Each year $1,000 national grants will be awarded to graduating high school seniors in the United States, who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities or vocational schools.

The Iowa JCI program will be honoring three high school seniors with at least a $100 scholarship and send the top two forward to USJCI national judging, where the top 33 national seniors will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

Applications must be postmarked by Jan. 14, 2022. For more information, see this scholarship program flyer and application checklist or contact John Buttolph at (515) 290-0383.

Our Mission 

To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities. 

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success

Reminder: Heartland Administrators' Association Meeting, Sept. 7

The next regular meeting of the Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) will be held on Sept. 7 from 9 -11:30 a.m. at the Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, in Johnston in Rooms 107AB. The meeting will also be available via Zoom at https://heartlandaea.zoom.us/j/708115455.

Agenda Link

This month’s agenda will feature updates from the Iowa Department of Education with Director Dr. Ann Lebo, as well as a session on Learning and Leading for Equity with guest speakers, Lee Teitel, Ed.D., and Circe Stumbo, Ed.M. Dr. Teitel is the founding director and senior consultant for the Reimagining Integration: Diverse and Equitable Schools (RIDES) project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He currently supports teams from more than 50 schools and districts around the country in equity improvement work, and has co-founded a new nonprofit supporting this work, SchoolsTransforming.org. Ms. Stumbo is president of West Wind Education Policy, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Heartland AEA Service Spotlight: Data & Assessment Services for Schools

Heartland AEA assessment consultants help schools and districts assess that instructional practices and curriculum are working for students on the individual-, grade- and school-level. Learn more from these resources:

Assessment page of our website

Download the Data & Assessment Services document for further objectives and examples.
Contact a member of the Heartland AEA team or your regional director when you have questions or need support regarding these service areas.

New for School Leaders! Networking Opportunity Surrounding Iowa Standards for School Leaders

This year, Heartland AEA is offering a new networking opportunity for area administrators. The Iowa Standards for School Leaders will be an integral part of the administrative role in the 2021-22 school year. Therefore, collaboration and discussion about the 10 standards will further ground effective administrative practices. In addition, the sessions will provide ample time for open dialog and sharing of resources among area leaders in attendance. The sessions will be virtual, making it possible to join from work, and with two time offerings, conveniently available to accommodate busy schedules. Principals, Associate Principals, SAMs, Athletic Directors, and Deans are encouraged to attend. For registration information and details, see this 2021-22 Principal Network flyer.

Heartland AEA Library & Digital Newsletter is Now Available

The Heartland AEA Library & Digital Resources newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues!

In this issue:

• TeachingBooks.net: Literacy Supports and Webinars
• Better Together Series Starts Sept. 2
• Spanish Version of PebbleGo
• Copy and Embed Links to PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next
• Report: School Librarians Across the Country
• Elementary Country Reports Resources

Coming in September: Investigation Training - Bullying & Section 102, Level 1

This training is modeled off of Amanda Easton and Anne Morgan's trainings for Bullying Investigations. Training on Section 102, Level 1 investigations is now included. An hour presentation by an attorney that includes a Q/A is part of the course.

Initially, participants will spend time on the law then the actual process of conducting investigations. The second part involves digging into scenarios. The final part of the class is spent in small groups working through a case study to determine 'founded' or 'unfounded.'

Register at this link

Update: ACHIEVE System Rollout

The AEA Special Education Directors know districts are eager to learn more about the transition plan to ACHIEVE, the state’s new IEP/IFSP system. The ACHIEVE Governance Council (AGC), which includes representation of Department of Education staff, AEA special education directors, and LEA special education directors, is pleased to share an updated overview related to the system rollout.

All districts will be using the ACHIEVE system no later than Sept. 15, 2022, with the inclusion of all IEPs/IFSPs by June 30, 2023.

This slide deck has been shared with your special education directors/contacts and provides an overview of the implementation opportunities available for districts.

Additional details on professional learning, the process to determine a go-live date and other specifics will come from your AEA Director of Special Education and Regional Director later this fall. The additional information will include the readiness steps that will need to be completed prior to going live.

Thank you for your continued collaboration on this important initiative.

Family & Educator Partnership Presents: Smart but Scattered -- Helping Children and Teens Strengthen Executive Skills to Reach Their Full Potential

The Family & Educator Partnership strives to provide families and the community training to help their students in the classroom. In doing so, Heartland AEA is excited to announce an upcoming learning session by Peg Dawson, Ed.D., a field expert on Executive Skills. This virtual training is designed to help students achieve success in school and in life. No prior registration is required.

Topic: Heartland AEA Parent Session
Date: Sept. 14, 2021 

Time: 6:30 p.m. Central Time
Join Zoom Meeting: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86014358711?pwd=VjQ1TmFWY3lBOUZSQlgvejRlaVpHdz09

Smart but Scattered: Helping Children and Teens Strengthen Executive Skills to Reach Their Full Potential
Executive skills are critical to the acquisition of academic skills, but, more importantly, they are the skills students need to get things done. They are brain-based skills such as task initiation, sustained attention, working memory, planning, organization, and goal-directed persistence that are absolutely critical to school success. Some students seem to acquire them naturally, but many students struggle with them. Dr. Dawson, co-author of the books Smart but Scattered and Smart but Scattered Teens, will describe how these skills develop throughout childhood and suggest strategies parents can use to help children acquire the critical skills they need to be successful students.

Let us Know How We Can Support Your Tech Needs!

You may be aware that Heartland AEA provides a variety of services to support your district’s technology needs, including:

• Tech Coordinator Meetings
• Tech Coordinator Listserv
• Internet Filtering (iBoss)
• Network Evaluation
• ClassLink OneClick

To learn more about these offerings, contact Darrel Raynor, Senior Director of Information Technology or Jeff S. Weinberg, Director of Technology, or complete this brief survey. We would like your insight on cyber security, Google administration support, e-rate filing assistance and off-site data backup. Thank you!

Iowa Council of Administrators of Special Education Presents 2021-22 Webinar Series Featuring Lee Ann Jung

The Iowa Council of Administrators of Special Education (iCASE) is presenting three great learning opportunities for administrators who are looking for more information about equitable and inclusive classrooms, and legal issues in special education regarding least restrictive environments. The webinar series begins Sept. 14. View the series information here and register at this link.